Tube-expander.



PTENEED MAR. 245.19013.

No. 725,685.A

P. LAMP-LOUGH.

TUBE EXPANDER. nPLmA'rIQN rum SEPT. so. 1902.

N0 MUDBL.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK LAMPLOUGH, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TUBE-EXPANDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 723,685, dated March 24, 1903.

I Application filed September 30, 1902. Serial No. 125,3 56. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown thatLFEEDERToKLAMPLOUGH,

a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, England, have invented a new and useful Tube-EXpander, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The subject of this invention is a tube-expander of simple form specially adapted for expanding tubes of small diameter.

To this end my improved tube-expanding tool consists, essentially, of a one-piece tapering shell having longitudinal slots through which project the faces ofthe customary eX- panding-rollers whose inward pressure is sustained by a central mandrel.

In my improved tool the longitudinal slots in the shell are formed with ends converging outward, and the expanding-rollers are made with conical ends and of suitable length to be confined from escape by the converging ends of the slots.

I will describe my invention by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a longitudinal section of the tube-expander complete. Fig. 2 is an elevation, and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section, of the same with the outer rollers removed. Fig. 4 is an elevation of one of the outer rollers, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the shell of the expander on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

In constructing the improved tube-expander I employ a'tapered shell a, made of a single piece of metal of circular section closed at one end and provided with longitudinal slots a to receive a series of rollers b. The ends a2 of the slots a are beveled, and the ends b of the rollers b are of conical form, so that by their cooperation the rollers b are prevented from falling out of the slots 'a'. A central tapered mandrel c is placed in a central boring a3 of the shell a between the rollers b to form a bearing for the latter, and such mandrel c is held in position, with freedom to rotate, by means of a screw a4, just bearing on of wear can be taken up by this screw. T he head a5 of the shell a is squared or otherwise formed to enable the expander to be rotated by a suitable instrument applied thereto. This causes the rollers to carry around evenly, while a rotary motion is imparted to them on account of their running between the periphery of the central mandrel c and the inner surface of the tube to be expanded.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The tube-expanderherein described,con sisting of the one-piece tapering shell a, closed at its smaller end, suitably squared at its larger end for rotating it and having longitudinal slots 0.' with beveled ends a2; rollers l) having conical ends b', of suitable length to be confined against escape by engagement of their conical ends with the beveled ends of the slots a while their faces project through said slots; a central tapering mandrel c snstaining the inward pressure of the rollers b; and a screw-plug confining the mandrel c in the shell a, while permitting its rotation by Contact with the rollers b, as explained.

2. In a tube-expander, the combination of the centrally-bored shell a, made of a single piece of metal having bevel-ended longitudinal slots a communicating with the bore; conical-ended rollers b of suitable length to fit loosely in the slots a with their faces projecting therefrom and to be confined by the bevel ends of the slots; the tapered mandrel c turning freely in the shell and forming an internal bearing for the conical-ended rollers b; and means for retaining said mandrel within the shell with freedom of rotation, substantially as and for the purposes described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

F. LAMPLOU GII. 

